should i mix peat with compost when planting from a pot?

To try and save my Berberis Thunbergii I have decided to plant it in my garden and was wondering if I should mix a little peat in with the compost as I have herd some people sware by it and others avoid it. Thanks to Bamboo and Elleme for your replies, I didn't find any signs of sawfly( thanfully) just some tiny bright green balls which I hope are some kind of food pellets put in when first potting. I think the loss of leaves may have been caused by the hot weather and it still being in a pot with holes in the bottom.

4 Jul, 2009

Answers

It's far better if you don't use peat as it comes from unsustainable sources and its removal helps destroy valuable and unique wildlife habitat, despite what the peat extraction industry says.
Using a peat free alternative compost will open up and retain moisture in the soil just as well, and the best stuff of all is to use your own garden compost, which will both keep moisture in the soil, add humus and feed the plant slowly and naturally.